Locker and security enclosure for cable-pulling cart

ABSTRACT

A vehicle for the transportation of containers of reeled cable has a frame, and an upstanding security locker with an access panel and holes in one panel. A plurality of support rods have first ends that are received into the holes in the panel. Removable retaining devices are attached to the first ends of the rods so that the support rods cannot be removed from the locker unless the retaining devices are removed. The security locker encloses both the first ends of the rods and the retaining devices and has an access panel such that provides access to the locker. The security locker may be included on a hand truck or a four wheeled cart and include a loop for securing the cart or hand truck to a fixed anchor point.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Wire and cable for installation in residences and buildings typicallycomes on cable reels. The types of wire and cable so provided arenumerous, and include 110V three-conductor wire, “Romex”, and manydifferent kinds of low-voltage, multiconductor insulated communicationscable, such as that used for setting up Ethernet networks, intercomsystems, entertainment systems and the connection of security sensorsand devices. A new building under construction will need many kinds ofthese cables, and several reels of cable will be used by an installeron-site.

One known technique is to provide coils of such cable in boxes, and tocreate a hole in a front or top panel of the (typically cardboard) boxfor pulling out a desired length of cable. This conventional method hasa drawback in that the cable may kink inside of the box or otherwiseresist being pulled out of the box to such an extent that a cableinstaller or technician finds that he or she is pulling the box acrossthe floor. Often, the installer has to install several different lengthsof cable on a single run. To do this, the installer had to identifywhich kinds of cable he or she needs, individually pull cable out ofseparate boxes and estimate as best as he or she can the amount of cableso pulled.

These boxes of cable are heavy and it takes some effort to move themaround. In complex jobs, it is easy for one needed box of cable tobecome physically dissociated from one or more other boxes of cable thatwill supply lengths of different cable for the same run. As a result,boxes of cable are typically transported around the job site with cartsor hand trucks to move save time and effort. Unfortunately, thisincreased portability, combined with the rising cost of buildingmaterials, makes these reels of cable an easy target for thieves. As aresult, a need persists for securing valuable materials to a fixedanchor point while providing a convenient apparatus for moving anddispensing cable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the invention, a vehicle for thetransportation of containers of reeled wire or cable comprises a framehaving opposed first and second frame ends and an upstanding securitylocker affixed near the second frame end. The security locker has anenclosure defined by at least one wall and a plurality of verticallyspaced apart first support rod holes in the wall and an access panelthat affords access to the enclosure and is adaptable to being lockedand unlocked. Additionally, the vehicle comprises a plurality ofvertically spaced apart elongate support rods with first ends of thesupport rods receivable through respective ones of the first rod holesinto the security locker. For each first end of the support rod, aremovable primary retaining device for attachment to the first end ofthe support rod when the first end is in the enclosure. The primaryretaining device prevents the first end from being withdrawn from theenclosure unless the primary retaining device is removed and ispreferably a clevis or a cotter pin.

According to another aspect of the invention, a system for dispensingwire or cable from reels and for deterring theft of the reels comprisesa vehicle for the transportation of containers of wire or cable and atleast one carton. The vehicle comprises a frame having opposed first andsecond frame ends and an upstanding security locker affixed to theframe. The security locker has an enclosure defined by at least onewall, at least one rod hole formed in said at least one wall, and anaccess panel of the security locker affording access to the enclosure.Additionally, the vehicle further comprises at least one elongatesupport rod, a first end of the at least one support rod receivablethrough respective ones of the rod holes into the security locker.Further, the vehicle comprises at least one removable retaining devicefor attachment to the first end of a support rod. When the first end isin the enclosure, the retaining device prevents the first end from beingwithdrawn from the enclosure until the retaining device is removed.

Further, the at least one cable carton contains a reel of wire or cableand have a top panel, a bottom panel, a left panel, and a right panel,the bottom panel having opposed left and right sides. The left panelextends upwardly from the left side of the bottom panel, the right panelextends upwardly from the right side of the bottom panel, the top paneladjoins the left and right panels and is spaced from and parallel to thebottom panel. Arbor holes are formed in each of the left and rightpanels and around an axis so as to both be a first predetermineddistance from an upper surface of the bottom panel and a secondpredetermined distance from the lower surface of the top panel and thecarton includes an axial passageway between the arbor holes. The atleast one elongate support rod is adapatable to be inserted through thearbor holes and the axial passageway, and at least one rod hole of thelocker. Preferably, the vehicle is a cart or a hand truck.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further aspects of the invention and their advantages can be discernedin the following detailed description, in which like characters denotelike parts and in which:

FIG. 1 is side view according to one aspect of the invention showing aplurality of containers installed on a cart with support rods shown inhidden line;

FIG. 1A is a side view showing a hinge attachment of the locker to theframe;

FIG. 1B is a side view showing attachment of the locker to the frame bya retention device;

FIG. 1C is a sectional view of one of the cartons shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 2A is an isometric view of a security locker showing according toanother aspect of the invention showing the first ends of the supportrods being supported by a large security locker and a variety of primaryretaining devices attached to the first ends;

FIG. 2B is an isometric view of an alternative embodiment showing asmaller security locker and having a slideable panel inside twochannels, with rod ends and fasteners shown in hidden line;

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a second upstanding panel for use withone embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a side view of one embodiment of the invention showing thesecurity locker being rotated from a use configuration to a storageconfiguration and laying down in a storage configuration; and

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a two-wheeled hand truck or dollyaccording to another embodiment of the invention having a securitylocker.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2A, a vehicle, indicated generally at 100, forthe transportation of containers 101 of reeled cable or wire comprises aframe 102 having a first frame end 104 and an opposed second frame end106 and a security locker 110A affixed to the frame 102 near the secondframe end 106. The security locker 110A has an enclosure defined by atleast one wall 226 having a plurality of vertically spaced-apart firstsupport rod holes 202A-C that are preferably in a vertical line and areequidistantly spaced. The security locker 110A has an access panel 204affording access to the locker 110A which is adaptable to being lockedand unlocked.

Additionally, the vehicle 100 further comprises a plurality ofvertically spaced elongate support rods 112A-C having first ends 114that are receivable through respective ones of the preferably first rodsupport holes 202A-C into the security locker 110A. The first end ofeach support rod 112 has a removable primary retaining device 206A-C forattachment to the first end of the support rod 112 when the first end114 is in the enclosure. The primary retaining devices 206A-C preventthe first end 112 of the support rod 112 from being withdrawn from theenclosure until the primary retaining devices 206A-C are removed.Preferably, the vertical first rod support holes 202A-C are in avertical line and are equidistantly spaced.

The security locker may take a variety of configurations, being smallenough to enclose only the first ends 114 and primary retaining devices206, as shown in FIG. 2B, or large enough to hold larger items such ashard hats, tools, tool belts, etc., as shown in FIG. 2A. Also, thelocker may contain a variety of features such as one or more shelves232, and hooks 234. In a preferred embodiment, the security locker 110Afurther comprises a front wall 208 having a top edge 210, a first edge212, a second edge 214, and a bottom edge 216. The locker 110A also hasa support wall 226 parallel to and spaced from the front wall 208.Additionally, a first sidewall 218 extending from the first edge 212 andbeing orthogonal to the front wall 208, a second sidewall 220 extendingfrom the second edge 214 and being orthogonal to the front wall andspaced from the first sidewall, a bottom wall 222 extending from thebottom edge 216 and being orthogonal to the front wall 208 and first andsecond side walls 218, 220, and a top wall 224 along the top edge 210,parallel to and spaced from the bottom wall 222. The access panel 204 isformed in at least a portion of one of the front wall 208, firstsidewall 218, second sidewall 220, and the top tall 224. One or morewalls of the security locker 110A may be a wire mesh or expanded metalsuch that the contents of the locker 110A are visible from the exterior.

More preferably, the vehicle has at least one access panel hinge 228affixed to the access panel 204 and a wall of the locker 110A with theaccess panel 204 being rotatable about an axis 230 formed by the hinge228, as shown in FIG. 2A. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 2B, thesecurity locker 110B may comprise a first channel 240 in the firstsidewall 218 and a second channel 242 in the second sidewall 220 andbeing slideable in the first and second channels 240, 242.

Even more preferably, the security locker 110A comprises a loop 120 forsecuring the locker 110A to a fixed anchor such as a truck, a piece ofmachinery, or a light pole. This allows the vehicle 100 to be left onthe job site and ensures the locker 110A and its contents are notstolen. As used herein, the term “loop” is intended to mean any surfaceforming an unbroken perimeter through which a cable or a chain may bepassed to connect the vehicle 100 to the anchor. Thus, the loop may be ahandle attached to one or more surfaces of the locker or even a holepassing through the locker 110A. Additionally, a loop 120 may be affixedto the frame 102.

In one embodiment, the frame 102 is a cart having wheels 124 and theframe is an elongate horizontal frame and further comprises anupstanding panel 108 affixed to the first frame end 104, the upstandingpanel 108 having a plurality of second rod support holes 302A-C (seeFIG. 3), for receiving respective second ends 116 of the support rods112A-C. Additionally, a front vertical panel 103 may be affixed to thefirst frame end 104. Preferably, the front vertical panel 103 has aplurality of support rod storage holes 203 for receiving the first ends114 or the second ends 116 of the support rods 112A-C when the cart 110Ais in the storage configuration.

In a preferred embodiment, the cart is reconfigurable between a useconfiguration and a storage configuration. The locker may furthercomprise a security locker hinge 238 (shown in FIGS. 1A and 2A) that isaffixed to the security locker 110A and the frame 102 so that thesecurity locker 110A can rotate around the second hinge 238 between thestorage and the use position. In the storage position, the locker 110Alays down onto the frame 102.

Alternatively, the vehicle 100 may comprise a rear vertical panel 126 atthe second frame end 106 having an affixation hole 127 disposed to becoaxial with and adjacent to at least one first rod support hole 202A-Csuch that a first end 114 of a support rod 112 is receivable through theaffixation hole 127 and second rod support hole 202. The rear verticalpanel 126 may also have a plurality of support rod storage holes 203.Additionally, the vehicle may comprise left and right vertical panels128, 130 that adjoin the security locker 110B and the rear panel 126 aswell as an end wall 129 at the second frame end 106. As shown in FIG.2A, a depth 211 of the locker 110A preferably equals the depth 213 ofthe cart 100 such that the support wall 226 of the locker supports thecartons 101.

Referring to FIG. 3, the support rods 112A-C may further comprise one ormore secondary retaining devices 304 for attachment to the second ends116 of the support rods 112 to prevent the axial rod 112 from beingwithdrawn from the vehicle. The secondary retaining device 304 ispreferably an enlarged end.

In an alternate embodiment, the vehicle is a hand truck, indicatedgenerally at 500, for the transportation of containers 101A-B eachcontainer having a passageway 154 therethrough. The frame is at leastone elongate vertical member 504 and the hand truck further comprises ahorizontally disposed flat bottom shelf 502 for receiving containersaffixed to the second end of the frame. A second end 514 of each supportrod 112 is enlarged so as to affix at least one container 101 to therespective support rod.

Preferably, the hand truck 500 further comprises at least one crossmember 506 disposed transversely of and affixed to the at least onevertical member 504, with each cross member 506 having a rod-receivingcross member hole 508 formed therein. Each cross member hole 508 iscoaxial with and adjacent to each respective support rod hole and thesecurity locker 520 is affixed to at least one cross member 506.Preferably, the holes 508 are vertically spaced apart from each other.As above, the plurality of elongate support rods 510 each have a firstend 512 that is adapted to be inserted through at least one passageway154 in the containers 101 and into a respective cross member hole 508.Preferably, the hand truck 500 also has a plurality of support rodstorage sleeves 524 affixed to at least one cross member 506, eachsleeve receiving a respective support rod for storing the support rodwhile not in use.

As above, the locker 520 has at least one access panel hinge 518 affixedto the access panel 521 and a wall of the security locker 520, theaccess panel hinge 518 being rotatable about an axis 522 formed by theaccess hinge 518.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2A, a system for dispensing wire or cable fromreels and for deterring theft of the reels comprises a vehicle 100 forthe transportation of containers 101 of wire or cable and at least onecarton 101. The vehicle comprises a frame 102 having opposed first andsecond frame ends 104, 106 and an upstanding security locker 110Aaffixed to the frame 102 near the second frame end 106. The securitylocker 110A has an enclosure defined by at least one wall 226, at leastone rod hole 202A-C formed in the at least one wall 226, and an accesspanel 204 of the security locker 110A affording access to the enclosure.Additionally, the vehicle 100 further comprises at least one elongatesupport rod 112, a first end 114 of the support rod receivable throughthe at least one rod hole 202A-C into the security locker 110A, and atleast one removable retaining device 206 for attachment to the first end114 when the first end 114 is in the enclosure. Thus, the at least oneretaining device 206 prevents the first end 114 from being withdrawnfrom the enclosure unless the retaining device 206 is removed.

As shown in FIG. 1C, the at least one cable carton 101 contains a reel132 of wire or cable and have a top panel 134, a bottom panel 136, aleft panel 138, and a right panel 140, the bottom panel 136 havingopposed left 142 and right sides 144. The left panel 138 extendsupwardly from the left side 142 of the bottom panel 136, the right panel140 extends upwardly from the right side 144 of the bottom panel 136,the top panel 134 adjoins the left and right panels 138, 140 and isspaced from and parallel to the bottom panel 136. Arbor holes 146 areformed in each of the left and right panels 138, 140 and around an axis148 so as to both be a first predetermined distance from an uppersurface 150 of the bottom panel 136 and a second predetermined distancefrom the lower surface 152 of the top panel 134. An axial passageway 154is formed between the arbor holes. At least one carton support rod 112is adaptable to be inserted through the arbor holes 146, the axialpassageway 154, and the at least one rod hole 202A-C of the locker 110Ais positioned side by side such that the arbor holes thereof are alignedon a single axis.

The at least one elongate support rod 112C is inserted through the arborholes 146 and may also go through an axial passageway 154 of each reeland the arbor holes 146 of each carton 101. Additionally, the system maycomprise at least a second cable reel carton 101 positioned side by sidewith the first carton 101 such that the arbor holes 146 are aligned on asingle axis and the at least one elongate support rod 112C extendsthrough the arbor holes 146 of the first and second cartons

At least a third carton 101 may be positioned above the first carton anda second rod hole 202B in the at least one sidewall is vertically spacedfrom the first rod hole 202C by a distance equal to the spacing betweenthe arbor holes 146 of the first and third cartons. A second elongatesupport rod 112B is receivable through the second rod hole.

Similarly, at least a fourth carton may be positioned above the secondcarton side by side with the third carton such that the arbor holes arealigned on a single axis. The second support rod is receivable throughthe arbor holes of the third and fourth cartons and a second rod hole inthe at least one wall of the security locker 110A.

Preferably, the vehicle 100 is a cart, the frame 102 including anelongate horizontal frame and an upstanding panel 108 having at leastone second rod support hole 202A-C that is affixed to the first frameend 104.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 5, the vehicle 100 is a hand truck 500,the frame including at least one elongate vertical member 504 andfurther comprising a horizontally disposed flat bottom shelf 502 affixedto the second frame end 526. The shelf 502 is for receiving containers101, with each container having a passageway therethrough. The secondend 514 of the at least one support rod 510 is enlarged so as to affixthe containers 101 to the security locker 520. At least one cross member506 is affixed to and disposed transversely of the at least one verticalmember 504 and has a rod-receiving cross member hole 508 formed therein.

In summary, the different embodiments of the present invention allow theuser to move heavy cartons of cable around the work site while providingsecurity at the same time. Since access to the support rods isrestricted by a security locker, only authorized personnel can removethe cartons, thereby preventing theft and reducing material costs.

While illustrated embodiments of the present invention have beendescribed and illustrated in the appended drawings, the presentinvention is not limited thereto but only by the scope and spirit of theappended claims.

1. A vehicle for the transportation of containers of reeled cable orwire comprising: a frame having opposed first and second frame ends; anupstanding security locker affixed to the frame near the second frameend, the security locker having an enclosure defined by at least onewall, a plurality of vertically spaced-apart first support rod holesformed in said wall, and an access panel of the security lockeraffording access to the enclosure and adaptable to be locked andunlocked; a plurality of vertically spaced apart elongate support rods,first ends of the support rods receivable through respective ones of thefirst rod holes into the security locker; and for each first end of asupport rod, a removable primary retaining device for attachment to thefirst end of the support rod when the first end is in the enclosure, theprimary retaining device preventing the first end from being withdrawnfrom the enclosure until the primary retaining device is removed.
 2. Thevehicle of claim 1, the locker including a front wall having a top edge,a first edge, a second edge, and a bottom edge, and having a supportwall parallel to and spaced from the front wall, a first sidewallextending from the first edge and being orthogonal to the front wall, asecond sidewall extending from the second edge and being orthogonal tothe front wall and spaced from the first sidewall, a bottom wallextending from the bottom edge and being orthogonal to the front walland first and second sidewalls, and a top wall extending from the topedge and parallel to and spaced from the bottom wall; wherein the accesspanel is formed in at least a portion of one of the front wall, firstsidewall, second sidewall, and top wall.
 3. The vehicle of claim 2,further comprising at least one access panel hinge affixed to the accesspanel and a wall of the security locker, the access panel beingrotatable about an axis formed by the access panel hinge.
 4. The vehicleof claim 2, further comprising a first channel in the first sidewall anda second channel in the second sidewall, the access panel beingslideable in the first and second channels.
 5. The vehicle of claim 1,further comprising at least one shelf in the security locker.
 6. Thevehicle of claim 1, further comprising a hook in the security locker. 7.The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is a cart, the frame havingan elongate horizontal frame, the cart further comprising an upstandingpanel affixed to the first frame end, the upstanding panel having aplurality of second vertically spaced apart rod support holes, forreceiving respective second ends of the support rods.
 8. The cart ofclaim 7, further comprising a rear vertical panel at the second frameend having at least one affixation hole disposed to be coaxial with andadjacent to at least one second rod support hole such that at least onefirst end of a support rod is receivable through a respective affixationhole and second rod support hole, the rear vertical panel having aplurality of support rod storage holes for receiving the first ends ofthe support rods; a left vertical panel adjoining the security lockerand the rear vertical panel, the left vertical panel being disposed in aplane orthogonal to the rear vertical panel; and a right vertical paneladjoining the security locker and the rear vertical panel, the rightvertical panel being parallel to the left panel.
 9. The cart of claim 7,further comprising a front vertical panel affixed to the first frameend.
 10. The vehicle of claim 7, the cart reconfigurable between a useconfiguration and a storage configuration and further comprising asecurity locker hinge affixed to the security locker and the frame suchthat the security locker is pivotable around the security locker hingebetween the storage position and the use position.
 11. The vehicle ofclaim 10, wherein the locker lays down onto the frame when in thestorage position.
 12. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein a depth of thelocker equals a depth of the cart such that the support wall of thelocker supports the cartons.
 13. The vehicle of claim 1, furthercomprising a loop affixed to the security locker for receiving a chainor cable and affixing the cart to an immovable anchor.
 14. The vehicleof claim 1, further comprising a loop affixed to the frame for receivinga chain or cable and affixing the cart to an immovable anchor.
 15. Thevehicle of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of wheels mounted tothe frame.
 16. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the locker is sized toenclose the first rod ends, the primary retaining devices, and tools.17. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the locker is sized to enclose onlythe first rod ends and fasteners.
 18. The vehicle of claim 1, whereinthe at least one wall is a wire mesh or expanded metal such that thecontents of the security locker are visible from the exterior.
 19. Thevehicle of claim 1, wherein the first support rod holes are in avertical line.
 20. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first support rodholes are equidistantly spaced.
 21. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein thevehicle is a hand truck, the frame having at least one elongate verticalmember, the handtruck further comprising: a horizontally disposed flatbottom shelf affixed to the second end of the frame, the shelf forreceiving containers, each container having a passageway therethroughfor a support rod; and a second end of each support rod being enlargedso as to affix at least one container to the respective support rod. 22.The hand truck of claim 21, the locker including a front wall having atop edge, a first edge, a second edge, and a bottom edge, and having asupport wall parallel to and spaced from the front wall, a firstsidewall extending from the first edge and being orthogonal to the frontwall, a second sidewall extending from the second edge and beingorthogonal to the front wall and spaced from the first sidewall, abottom wall extending from the bottom edge and being orthogonal to thefront wall and first and second sidewalls, and a top wall extending fromthe top edge and parallel to and spaced from the bottom wall, thesecurity locker being affixed to at least one cross member; wherein theaccess panel is formed in at least a portion of one of the front wall,first sidewall, second sidewall, and top wall.
 23. The hand truck ofclaim 22, further comprising at least one cross member disposedtransversely of and affixed to the at least one vertical member, eachcross member having a rod-receiving cross member hole formed therein,each cross member hole being coaxial with and adjacent to eachrespective support rod hole, the security locker being affixed to atleast one cross member.
 24. The hand truck of claim 22, furthercomprising a plurality of support rod storage sleeves affixed to atleast one cross member, each sleeve receiving a respective support rodfor storing the support rod while not in use.
 25. A system fordispensing wire or cable from reels and for deterring theft of thereels, comprising: a vehicle for the transportation of containers ofwire or cable comprising: a frame having opposed first and second frameends; an upstanding security locker affixed to the frame near the secondframe end, the security locker having an enclosure defined by at leastone wall, at least one rod hole formed in the at least one wall into theenclosure and an access panel of the security locker affording access tothe enclosure; at least one elongate support rod, a first end of thesupport rod receivable through the at least one rod hole into thesecurity locker; at least one removable retaining device for attachmentto the first end of the support rod when the first end is in theenclosure until the retaining device prevents the first end from beingwithdrawn from the enclosure unless the retaining device is removed; andat least one cable carton containing a reel of wire or cable and havinga top panel, a bottom panel, a left panel, and a right panel, the bottompanel having opposed left and right sides, the left panel extendingupwardly from the left side of the bottom panel, the right panelextending upwardly from the right side of the bottom panel, the toppanel adjoining the left and right panels and being spaced from andparallel to the bottom panel, arbor holes formed in each of the left andright panels and around an axis so as to both be a first predetermineddistance from an upper surface of the bottom panel and a secondpredetermined distance from the lower surface of the top panel, andaxial passageway between the arbor holes; the at least one elongatesupport rod adaptable to be inserted through the arbor holes, the axialpassageway, and the at least one rod hole of the locker.
 26. The systemof claim 25, further comprising at least a second cable reel cartonpositioned side by side with the first carton such that the arbor holesthereof are aligned on a single axis, the at least one elongate supportrod extending through the arbor holes of the first and second cartons.27. The system of claim 26, further comprising at least a third cartonpositioned above the first carton, a second rod hole in the at least onesidewall vertically spaced from the first rod hole by a distance equalto the spacing between the arbor holes in the right panels of the firstand third cartons, and a second elongate support rod receivable throughthe arbor holes of the third carton and the second rod hole.
 28. Thesystem of claim 27, further comprising at least a fourth cartonpositioned above the second carton and side by side with the thirdcarton such that the arbor holes thereof are aligned on a single axis,the second support rod receivable through the arbor holes of the thirdand fourth cartons and a second rod hole.
 29. The system of claim 25,further comprising at least a second cable reel carton positioned abovethe first carton, at least a second rod hole, and at least a secondelongate support rod receivable through the second rod hole into thesecurity locker.
 30. The system of claim 25, wherein the vehicle is acart, the frame including an elongate horizontal frame, the cart furthercomprising an upstanding panel having at least one second rod supporthole and being affixed to the first frame end.
 31. The system of claim25, wherein the vehicle is a hand truck, the frame including at leastone elongate vertical member, the hand truck further comprising: atleast one cross member affixed to and disposed transversely of the atleast one vertical member, each cross member having a rod-receivingcross member hole formed therein; a horizontally disposed flat bottomshelf affixed to the second end of the frame, the shelf adapted forreceiving cartons; and the second end of the at least one support rodbeing enlarged so as to affix said at least one carton to the supportrod.